Hi All, I did a search and could not find anything on this subject. When applying for , or currently having life insurance, they always ask if your a "smoker" or "non-smoker". What would e-cigs be classified as? Anyone come upon this subject? Thanks
e-cig and insurance
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It's worse than that. My insurance asked if I was a tobacco user? Are we?
--Prof Daffy
P.S. When in doubt, answer a question with a question. It confuses people.
i would say non-smoker and no to each poster, respectively. if they tested you for tobacco, you would come up negative. now, if e-cigs stay legal and become more popular as it seems will happen, a few years from now they may phrase it a bit differently
As a 20 year life insurance agent I can speak to this subject with some authority. The question varies with diffent carriers but with New York Life the question is "Has the proposed insured used tobacco, nicotine, or nicotine substitues in any form?
Typically the urine test will reveal nicotine usage so a discussion with the underwriter through your agent would be best at this point as you don't want to appear as though you are trying to fool the insurance company. I had a client that said no to this question (thinking I just meant smoking tobacco) but then showed high levels in her urine and the underwriter took the position of treating her as a full smoker even though she just chewed nicotine gum.
So...on this I suggest being truthful and even if they rate you a little it won't be as high as though you smoke tobacco. Moving forward, I'm sure vaping will have it's own catagory someday.
Vaping for two months now...no cigs! Hua!
Typically the urine test will reveal nicotine usage so a discussion with the underwriter through your agent would be best at this point as you don't want to appear as though you are trying to fool the insurance company. I had a client that said no to this question (thinking I just meant smoking tobacco) but then showed high levels in her urine and the underwriter took the position of treating her as a full smoker even though she just chewed nicotine gum.
So...on this I suggest being truthful and even if they rate you a little it won't be as high as though you smoke tobacco. Moving forward, I'm sure vaping will have it's own catagory someday.
Vaping for two months now...no cigs! Hua!
You can find some more opinions and advice here too:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...8601-health-insurance-tobacco-user-not-2.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...8601-health-insurance-tobacco-user-not-2.html
Strange, thats who insures me! Haha, and it sure is high priced insurance when a smoker. I believe they did ask "have I used nicotine in any form", and it was not any lower priced as if I told them a 2 pack a day smoker. Anyway, To me, its still smoke any way you want to look at it. You can call it "vapor", but it is smoke, pure smoke from burnt liquid.
There is a HUGE difference between smoke from something burning, and vapor from something being vaporized. The two are not even remotely the same thing.
I no longer intake nicotine so if you are vaping and not using nicotine, we could answer that question no.
It's probably the carbon monoxide the does as much or more damage to the body than the 4000 chemicals in a cigarette. Nicotine is just a stimulant and an addictive one at that.
There's nicotine in potatoes, so don't go to McDonald's before your test. There's also nicotine in tomatoes, so get the Big Mac. It doesn't have tomatoes.
--Prof Daffy
P.S. Well, I'm hungry.
We call it vapor, because it is vapor! It is not smoke in any way. It is not burnt...it is super-heated into...wait for it........water VAPOR.
Do you actually think that the morning fog is smoke? (Well, if you live in a major city maybe...) It is water VAPOR from the ground temperature being warmer than the air temperature! NOT SMOKE, no matter how you want to look at it!
I was wondering the same thing. My work benifits(health insurance) ask if I have used tobacco in the last 12 months. The answer was yes this year, but hopefully will be no next year.
My company just had its annual Wellness meetup with CIGNA. I asked the same question. The CIGNA rep told me unless I smoked, Im a NONSMOKER and until the application asked if I used an electronic cig, I did not need to disclose further info.
I asked this in a room of abt 300 people so dont worry, there were plenty of wittnesses
I asked this in a room of abt 300 people so dont worry, there were plenty of wittnesses
This question seems to be a no-brainer to me. Just truthfully answer the question as it is put before you on the paper (or whatever) that you have to sign. If you are asked by an agent, truthfully answer the question as it is worded.
Do I use tobacco - no
Do I smoke - no
Am I a smoker - no
Am I a vaper - yes
Do I vape - yes
Do I use nicotine - yes
Now, if they happen to ask a question similar to the above where you WOULD answer yes, then I would definately go ahead and explain exactly what you do and what e-cigarettes are. Might save you some money.
Also, it might be a good idea to try shopping around for different insurance carriers if that is an option available to you, if your current carrier somehow gives you a hit for vaping. Smoking is a BIG deal when it comes to paying out your ... for insurance, and you could save a lot of money even switching to a normally higher-priced carrier. All because they said "tobacco," "smoker,"...instead of "nicotine."
Do I use tobacco - no
Do I smoke - no
Am I a smoker - no
Am I a vaper - yes
Do I vape - yes
Do I use nicotine - yes
Now, if they happen to ask a question similar to the above where you WOULD answer yes, then I would definately go ahead and explain exactly what you do and what e-cigarettes are. Might save you some money.
Also, it might be a good idea to try shopping around for different insurance carriers if that is an option available to you, if your current carrier somehow gives you a hit for vaping. Smoking is a BIG deal when it comes to paying out your ... for insurance, and you could save a lot of money even switching to a normally higher-priced carrier. All because they said "tobacco," "smoker,"...instead of "nicotine."
I recently rejected a life insurance policy as it classed me as a Smoker and charged accordingly because they classed electronic cigarettes in the same catagory as NRT, and to be classed as a non smoker you have to be free of nicotine in any form for 6 months.
Now I am UK so there may be different criteria here.
This was the same with 3 or 4 companies..
Now I am UK so there may be different criteria here.
This was the same with 3 or 4 companies..
There is a difference between vapor and smoke--between vaporization and combustion/burning. And believe it or not, the difference is a very real, scientific one, not just semantics.
Here's a very good discussion of the difference: The differences between Vaporization and Combustion
Insurance companies that lump vapers into the same category as smokers are misinformed and intellectually lazy. Or maybe they're just looking for a way to charge higher rates.
Its amazing how closed minded some companies can be if it could mean more money for them....
Insurance companies that lump vapers into the same category as smokers are misinformed and intellectually lazy. Or maybe they're just looking for a way to charge higher rates.
Hold your cards...we have a BINGO called!!!
E
I hope you don't think the insurance companies care about you. It's a business like any other. High income, and low payouts. Nic users are an easy target.
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